Monday, July 19, 2010

DANGER! DNOTS Finally Released

First off, let me say NPR is a great organization, and if you can afford it, there are many ways to help contribute.

They came through again, streaming Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse's new album in its entirety.

You can find that stream here.

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse: Dark Night Of The Soul

This album features a plethora of talent. Renowned producer and magician/musician Danger Mouse teams up with Sparklehorse and many singers including James Mercer of The Shins, The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Frank Black of the Pixies, Iggy Pop, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chesnutt, David Lynch, and Scott Spillane of Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Gerbils.

Unfortunately, there has been some
controversy over this fantastic album. It comes down to big record (EMI) reserving their rights. In the midst of their rights being reserved, many things happened. This highly collectible book was published. This hand-numbered 100+ page visual narrative includes of photos taken by David Lynch. It so happens to be a very limited print and quite expensive. So if you happen to come across a copy you would like to send Beach Revival, it would be much appreciated.

For more information about this album, the book, and the controversy please go to the always helpful
Wikipedia and the collaborations highly interactive website.


Please note the following releases:

M.I.A. : /\/\/\Y/\ (Cracked-out/Awesome/Mac-inspired website)

School Of Seven Bells: Disconnect From Desire


R.I.P. Mark Linkous

Sunday, July 18, 2010

It's been a while, and it will be a while





Cut copy is coming out with a new album! ...next year.

But don't you fret! They recently released a single.

Go to their website

Insert your e-mail. Get a great song!

-JV

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Scissor Sisters Say Salut!

The Scissor Sisters graced us with their new album Night Work this week, and it is ripe for the clubs with fresh and tasty remixes.



Yes, I do believe that is the lead singer's derrière.






You can visit
their website for more details.


Also, please enjoy this new single from The Thermals

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Let’s Talk About Noise

Given that I’ve written about Deerhunter and My Bloody Valentine with some level of frequency here, it should come as no surprise that I’m not scared off by noise. Far from it, I embrace it; I want it to wash over and consume so, and hopefully I can emerge whole on the other side.

So for me, a band like Fuck Buttons is wildly interesting. Fusing the epic/dance nature of trance with distortion and volume that would make Sonic Youth blush, listening to Fuck Buttons makes everything fucking epic. I remember one afternoon running errands around campus, and while on the CATBus listening to their 2009 release Tarot Sport: “This is the most vital/crucial CATBus ride of my life” (or just Tuesday if you aren’t buying into the aura the band creates). Each of their songs establish a basic groove which will then repeat for 3-4minutes. And then the noise will hit and it can be absolutely searing when it hits. These effects combined with fairly interesting rhythmic patterns and drum sounds make for an enthralling musical experience, and these really aren’t so much songs as an experience.

Breakout act Sleigh Bells are another group to fully embrace noise as a sonic tool. This is especially evident when comparing early demos to the tracks on their album Treats. “Infinity Guitars” was pretty tame on the EP, while on the album the last 30sec UNLOAD on your ears, and “Crown On The Ground” is about as blissed out as repeated sonic explosions can be.

Final note: What the hell are Battles doing on the Twilight: Eclipse Soundtrack? The track “The Line” is pretty solid, it’s a pretty ballsy move on the part of the Twilight people, and I’m sure this well garner some positive attention for a band that definitely deserves it, but what the hell?

Whats In My Ears:

Fuck Buttons – Space Mountain

Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars

Deerhoof – Rrrrrrright

Ponytail – Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)

~David Ballou

Thursday, May 27, 2010

ARCADEFIRE ARCADEFIRE ARCADEFIRE

Ok, so the new songs in their entirety are up on the web and I’m pppprrrreeeettttyyyy stoked. “The Suburbs” and “Month of May” are from the yet to be titled upcoming LP from Arcade Fire, due out at some point this summer. The plan was for them to debut on NPR tomorrow, but they ended up on BBC Radio and then some blog and then every blog, go figure.

MP3 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
MP3 Arcade Fire – Month of May

The Suburbs sounds like a really polished song from their first EP, pretty minimal instrumentation by AF’s standards, relying more on Win Bulter’s lyrics. I can’t make them all out yet, but I like what I hear so far, and this is already on the list of “songs I actively want to listen to”. The other track, Month of May, I am officially dubbing The Arcade Fire Punk Song (©2010). I wouldn't say it’s a bad song, it’s just kind of silly for me to hear a straight punk song from a group of kids who dress like puritan farmers.


As we near June I’ve been thinking about the music that has come out in the past year, and as I love lists I’ve made a few.

5 Favorite Albums

Liars – Sisterworld
Owen Pallett – Heartland
Sleigh Bells – Treats
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
These New Puritans - Hidden

5 Favorite Songs
Liars – Scissor
Owen Pallett – Lewis Takes His Shirt Off
Flying Lotus – Computer Face // Pure Being
Massive Attack – Babel
The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio

These are in no particular order, except that I can definitely say Scissor from Liars is my favorite song of 2010 thus far. Give me a week w/ these AF tracks and I might change my mind.

Whats In My Ears:

MP3
Sleigh Bells – Run The Heart
MP3 Tobacco ft/Beck – Fresh Hex
MP3 Liars – Scissor

[Album]
Grizzly Bear – Live @ Pitchfork Festival ‘09

~
David Ballou

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Relevant Sounds

Sometimes there are noises that perplex.

They can throw you for a loop. A Loop. B Loop. A Loop. B loop. Fill.

The electronic age shows its face this week with a few key players assisting in its creation
.

Tobacco (AKA Tom Fec of Black Moth Super Rainbow)


MP3
Tobacco - Sweatmother
~Bzzz

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Hhhaaazzzeee

I concluded my last post talking about some hazy rock from Deerhunter and My Bloody Valentine. This sent me on a bit of a kick, trying to find a new shoegaze group I could get into.

Enter: Autolux



Autolux are a 3 piece from Los Angeles, and while they’ve been a band for over a decade now, they’ve only ever completed a single EP and LP. But that EP and LP are both fucking brilliant, combining the general malaise and detachment of The Pixies or Pavement with the freewheeling pedal work of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. If any of those four bands mean anything to you, Autolux is right in your wheelhouse. And lookie there, they have a new album (only their 2nd and their first release since 2004) scheduled for an August release.

The Horrors are another band that scratches the volume/pedals itch, although theirs is more in the form of Joy Division cranked to oblivion (there’s a Spinal Tap joke here that I’m not going to make). Their 2009 album Primary Colours was one of my favorite releases of 09, and I really regret not making the trek to ATL to see them at The Earl. That much noise in that small a venue would be either life threatening or otherworldly, or maybe both?

In other music news, Janelle Monae’s release The ArchAndroid might be my favorite album of 2010 so far, and is certainly the most complete. Every song is good, and she blends genres better than anyone this side of Outkast. Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes helped with production and the whole band quest spots on a track. Saul Williams, Big Boi, and others also guest. Shit is hot.

Also, Arcade Fire are teasing us with snippets of two new songs. I refuse to listen to them until they are available as complete tracks, so come on let them leak somewhere already. “The Suburbs” and “Month of May” are the two tracks, available for cockteasing at Arcade Fire’s website. Enjoy or endeavor on in your insistence on actual AF-related sustenance

What’s In My Ears:

Monday, May 17, 2010

Justin Vernon Seems Like A Cool Guy

Justin Vernon seems like a cool guy, but I’m not gonna lie: I think Bon Iver is pretty boring. I’ve never been really big on singer/songwriters so it’s not a huge surprise that I’m not feeling it. I guess Blood Bank EP was ok, and live it was fairly involving.

But overall:


However, whenever Justin Vernon steps into a collective environment, this shit takes off. 2009’s Unmap by Volcano Choir, a collaboration between Vernon and fellow Wisconsin band Collections of Colonies of Bees, was one of my favorite releases of that year, combining interesting post-rock and math-rock instrumentals with the typically haunting vocals that Vernon brings to the table. Their cover/reworking of the Bon Iver song “Woods” (called “Still” in this incarnation) really shows how astonishingly moving Vernon’s music can be if you spruce up the arrangements a little.

Which brings me to my band of the moment: Gayngs. Gayngs is a wide ranging collaborative group, where Justin Vernon is just one of many contributors. He provides the vocals for the first track on their new release Relayted, “The Gaudy Side of Town”. The album itself flows through a variety of dreamy instrumentals, with vocals/lyrics fading in and out seemingly at will. Fans of Dirty Three will really appreciate this stuff.

And while we’re on the subject of dreamy/hazy instrumentals, lets lend some love to Deerhunter. They played a new song on BBC radio last week called “Helicopter” that I’m fairly fond of, worthy enough of some definite thirsting for Cryptograms and/or Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. And of course, the true masters My Bloody Valentine. Gotta love some Loveless.

Whats In My Ears:

Bon Iver – Woods
Volcano Choir – Still
Gayngs – The Gaudy Side of Town
Deerhunter - Helicopter
My Bloody Valentine – Loomer

~David Ballou

Saturday, May 15, 2010

It's too nice



The weather is nice. There will always be music tomorrow.

Go to an outdoor festival of some sort.

Go see some live music.

Or just go to the beach.

..Ok here is one just for you, because I love you.

The Fiery Furnaces - Here Comes The Summer

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Playing out the Wazoo

The first person to leave a comment with the correct definition of a "Wazoo" will win a Beach Revival T-Shirt!



This week shelled out many great albums that you are
highly encouraged to check out.


(Listen to the entire album via the link above. Thanks to NPR)





Phosphorescent - The Mermaid Parade

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Thoughts on New Sounds

Whenever a band is setting out to record a new album they are struck with the difficult decision of repeating their previous style(s) or building something new. This is especially tricky if their previous style(s) garnered them popularity/attention. To stick to the tried and true or venture into the wild blue yonder?




History suggests that the truly great groups are the ones who embrace creative evolutions. David Bowie comes to mind, with the evolution of his persona through various characters and musical styles. The modern masters of this ideal would be Radiohead, who moved quickly from The Next Big Grunge Band (Pablo Honey), to Sonic Youth meets Brit Pop (The Bends), to updated Pink Floyd (OK Computer), to DJ Shadow on all kinds of drugs (Kid A / Amnesiac), to synthesized Kraut Rock (Hail to the Thief), to whatever you would call In Rainbows. Liars, who actually opened for Radiohead when I saw them (go figure), have also refused to be pigeonholed into a style or scene. They Threw Us In A Trench And Put A Monument On Top pretty much summed up their feelings, and their musical explorations since have embodied this spirit.

Which brings us to my dilemma today, as I listen to the new release from Foals. Total Life Forever (out May 11th on Transgressive) is the sophomore release from the Oxford quintet, and while it does share qualities with their debut, the delivery and overall feel of the album are completely different. DrownedInSound called Antidotes a “blitzkrieg”, which is pretty much a perfect summation. All of the glory of dance/post punk and math rock thrown in your face, and it was all pretty fucking awesome. Total Life Forever is more subdued, and while the polyrhythm is still there, it’s not nearly as enthralling as before.

Would I call it a disappointment? This seems strong, but it also seems like the perfect case where sticking to your strengths may have been a better call. I must say I love “This Orient.”

Which brings me to Arcade Fire, probably my favorite band in the world. The interwebs insist that they have an album to be released at some point this year, and that those hushed rubbing sounds you’re hearing are me trying to clean up the jizz on my pants. What will this album hold for us? I can’t say I would be disappointed with more massive anthems with an orchestra exploding out of my headphones. But fuck it, Win Butler shock the world: make an electronic album.

What’s In My Ears:
Radiohead – Reckoner
Foals – This Orient
The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio
Sleigh Bells – A/B Machines
Flying Lotus -Computer Face/Pure Being

(Album Download) Liars - There's Always Room On The Broom

~David Ballou

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Tiw's Day

New music brought to you by, Týr, the God of Single Combat.














~Check out the band's websites located at the top of each album cover.
Be sure to give us feedback: e-mail us at
BeachRevival@gmail.com or leave a comment

Friday, April 30, 2010

Weekend Playlist: Whippoorwill



The sounds of nature, of children laughing, of rustling palms.

It is a pleasant day. Tomorrow would be best suited at the beach.

Motherdrum - Whippoorwill

Beach Fossils - Youth

Sleigh Bells - Tell Em
+
LCD Soundsystem - Pow Pow

Regina Spektor- Fidelity (TGIK Remix

The New Pornographers - Your Hands (Together)

Delorean – Grow

Broken Social Scene - Texico Bitches


♥*¨*•.☆♪♫•*¨*•.♥¸¸♪♫•*¨*•.☆♪♫•*¨*•.♥ Sing you beautiful bird ♥*¨*•.☆♪♫•*¨*•.♥¸¸♪♫•*¨*•.☆♪♫•*¨*•.♥

Friday, April 23, 2010

Follow to Find

If you like coming here to find good music, you should continue to do so!

There is now a nice new fish tank at the bottom of the page, as well as some buttons for things like BookFace and feeding on RSS.



The next few weeks have a lot of great album releases, stay tuned.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

TuesDAY


Growing: Pumps

Growing is not new.

Growing is nuts.

Growing is H - O - T !

I do not condone this.

I condone this.

Here is a taste

Growing - Hormone


<> Also brought to you by Tuesday:

Jónsi: Go (voice of Sigur Rós)
Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi

Dr. Dog: Shame Shame
Dr. Dog - Shadow People

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Via Ψ

We Fun: Atlanta, GA Inside/Out (7/27/2010)

An inside/out look at how a small town scene becomes a worldwide phenomenon.

King Khan, the Black Lips, and others are featured in this documentary on the Atlanta music scene, directed by Matthew Robison and scheduled for DVD release on Record Store Day

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Weekend Playlist: Arborphilia (Tree Sex)


In sunny beachy Charleston, we will have weather in the 80's, and lots of pine sex this weekend. To get those trees groovin, here are some great tunes to take with you to the beach, on the way to the beach, or just wishing you were by sand and waves.

Surfer Blood - Swim

Toro Y Moi - 109

Stereolab - Miss Modular

Best Coast - When I'm With You

Blair - Hello Halo

Cults - Go Outside

Twin Sister - Lady Daydream

The Sandwitches - Back to the Sea

King Khan & BBQ Show - I'll Be Loving You

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round

The Besnard Lakes - Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Pt. 1

~Ariel Pink gets randy with ratdog:

Beach Revival playlists are meant to promote independent bands. Although we are avid pirates (as well as bikers and skaters too), music is good. So if you like it, please buy the songs.
~Jonny Vendetta


Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Let there be light



There is good times and music to be had.

Do yourself a flavor and lick this tune by pressing the little play button

Chromatic Flights - Passagrille

And if you really like it you can right-click > save as > import into i-tunes > play it on your Magic Conch Shell

If you REALLY like it. You can download the entire album
>Sunset Bell<

-Jonny Vendetta